Most people in their teens and early twenties will suffer from mild acne which is readily recognized by the appearance of small blackheads and white pimples ringed by a slight redness. In these cases diagnosis is not really necessary but, in more severe cases, with nodules and cysts and where papules or pustules are widespread on the face and also appear on the shoulders, chest and back it is wise to seek a professional diagnosis from a dermatologist.
Where acne consists of simple whiteheads and blackheads (which are simply whiteheads which are open to the air and turn black as a result of oxidization) these are normally referred to as closed and open comedones respectively and often a good antibacterial cleansing cream and time is all that is needed to treat the problem.
In more serious cases of acne, such as where nodules and cysts form, it is not uncommon to experience a range of other symptoms including such things as aching joints, headaches, a fever and gastrointestinal problems. Here specialist treatment will be necessary including the use of a range of prescription drugs.
Diagnosing acne is not always easy and so it can be helpful to your doctor if you keep a record of your symptoms for a while before visiting the surgery. For example, listing down exactly what symptoms you experience and when they appear can be important in pinpointing the precise form of acne which is present. Your record should also describe the appearance of any spots including such things as whether they feel soft or hard, whether they are painful and whether they appear to contain pus.
In some cases things like mosquito and spider bites can appear very much like acne spots when they first appear but will usually disappear within a couple of days, unless you are allergic to the bite in question.
Another common condition which can often be confused with acne is rosacea which, like acne can often causes papules and red pustules. Similarly keratosis pilaris can frequently produce small bumps which resemble whiteheads, as can the heat rash miliaria rubra.
Many allergies can also produce a skin reaction similar to the appearance of acne, as can some sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, certain sexually transmitted diseases can actually cause acne while other produce similar skin reactions, such as herpes which can result in red and painful bumps which appear on the buttocks.
Some drugs such as anabolic steroids, lithium, prednisone, phenobarbital and tetracycline can also cause acne, as can an excess of Vitamin B complex. For this reason, it is extremely important that you give your doctor a full and frank history of any drug use including any dietary supplements which you are taking.
When we talk about acne it often seems like a very simple and common skin complaint which can be easily treated with an over-the-counter cream. Many times this is the case, however, there are also many forms of acne which require a professional diagnosis and specialist treatment. Applying an over-the-counter cream will have little is any effect if what you really require is cystic acne treatment or a cure for keloid acne.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
About Acne Diagnosing
Types of Acne and Its Cause
For most of us acne conjures up a picture of simple pimples which are essentially trapped pus made up of dead skin cells, natural skin oil known as sebum and white blood cells. There are however several different types of acne and some can be quite severe.
Doctors often categorize acne into one of four grades starting with mild acne at grade I and rising to the most severe forms of acne at grade IV.
The acne which most of us will suffer from at some point in our lives is a simple grade I non-inflamed form of the condition which consists of blackheads and whiteheads and, occasionally, a grade II form of acne in which there are a larger than usual number of spots, some of which may be mildly inflamed and include what are known as papules (small lesions in the skin which forms a bump which sits prominent of the skin surface) or pustules (similar to papules but containing pus in the form of a mixture of dead skin cells, white blood cells and bacteria). As papules and pustules become larger and more numerous acne moves up to grade III. Finally, at stage IV, acne is usually widespread and confined to more than simply the face. It is also common at this stage to find both nodules and cysts developing.
The commonest form of grade I mild acne is often referred to as acne vulgaris and it can generally be very effectively treated using a range of over-the-counter medicines. Other forms of acne however will normally require specialist treatment for which you will need to consult your doctor or a dermatologist.
Trying to describe the various different forms of acne here is difficult because there are so many variations including acne congoblata, acne fulminans and cystic acne.
Acne congoblata, for example, is characterized by severe inflammation and often deep abscesses which frequently leads to skin damage and scarring.
Acne fulminans is a nodular form of acne in which the nodules frequently ulcerate leading to a particularly painful form of the condition which tends to be recurrent. Acne fulminans can also produce aching joints and a fever and requires treatment not simply for the acne itself, but also for the accompanying symptoms.
Cystic acne, or nodulocystic acne, is a severe form of acne in which cysts are formed by acute inflammation often covering large areas or forming tunnels under the skin which causes infection to spread rapidly.
Whatever type of acne you are suffering from it is very important that you both consult your doctor or a dermatologist to get a professional diagnosis and that you then adopt a clear plan of proactive acne treatment and do not simply leave Mother Nature to take care of the problem for you.
